Reader Favorites – Michelle’s Top 18 Reads for 2015

Countdown to 2016 bring us Michelle’s list! Yes, we have two Michelle’s in our group (and probably more, LOL!!!) which is why we can differentiate with the extra initials. She’s another fellow book-stalker from our “peanut gallery” , and all around great-taste-in-books reader and what I love is that she recommends so MANY genres, and we’re just LOVING them!

Here’s Michelle’s list of 2015 favorites, and she gives us some great book quotes, too!

She says:

“After actually listing my top reads for the year, I would say my tastes have been pretty eclectic. I guess the genre doesn’t matter for me; a good book is a good book! I borrowed Bev’s format with the quotes, which I thought was fun Oh and narrowing down any book list is painful for me (*cringes* just thinking about making an all-time favorite list), so you are getting 18 in no particular order. Enjoy and keep the recommendations coming because quite of few of them are below!”

1) Illuminae (The Illuminae Files) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. <— “I have to share my utter excitement over Illuminae! … it’s in my top 10 for the year and will likely climb if the pace keeps up…just OMG I’ve never read anything like it!”

2) Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith. <— “…you HAVE to read The Land of the Beautiful Dead. I loved both, and not just saying it to get you to read it, but TLotBD impacted me even more (which is saying a lot). It’s really harsh though in parts…painfully gritty and real. All this talk has decided my next book for me, going with Heat by Smith too. I really intend to read everything she has published.”

“She put her arms around him and pressed her brow to his, pressed hard. ‘I want you to miss me when I’m gone. Not for a thousand years or a million, but all of them, until there’s no more way to count them.’ “

3) Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass series) by Sarah J. Maas <— “…yessss I’m obsessed after Queen of Shadows which was 5* for me! I’m loving the fae hunk… thought it was the best book in the series and Rowan is just *fans myself*”

“She looked at them, at the three males who meant everything – more than everything. Then she smiled with every last shred of courage, of desperation, of hope for the glimmer of that glorious future. ‘Let’s go rattle the stars.’ “

4) Without Words by Ellen O’Connell <— “Without Words was the standout for me though…soooo good, just great pacing and I was right there in the story…gem of a find Bev thank you!”

“She laughed, felt him inhale her laughter. ‘You have the most beautiful laugh. It runs up and down my spine, shivers over my skin, and makes me want to grab hold of you like a mad man.’ “

5) Kulti by Mariana Zapata <— “…absolutely loved it! Yes Sal was the star for me but Kulti, for a man of little words, had some goosebump-inducing, swoon-worthy moments! I do not even really like soccer but it was not even a factor in connecting with the story at all. I wanted to start something new today but I’m finding that I want to stay with their story a little longer and nothing is looking good…another indicator for me that I just read a great one!”

“Dear God. A man like that making kissing sounds at what I could only guess was his baby. My vagina, my vagina didn’t know what to do with itself.”

“I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don’t know how you ever lived without them.”

7) Magic Shifts: A Kate Daniels Novel by Ilona Andrews <— “Oh and can I just SQUEEEEE for a moment over Magic Shifts! That powerhouse team knows how to write an entertaining top-notch urban fantasy! Now I have to switch genres completely because nothing will stand up to that!”

” ‘Does everybody think I am an asshole?’ Curran asked. ‘Only people who know you or have met you.’ “

8) Menagerie (The Menagerie Series Book 1) by Rachel Vincent <— “Ok Menagerie I have to plug…it was dark, wonderfully unique, thought-provoking and had me sucked in from go! If Vincent can keep up the pace, the trilogy should be awesome! It’s a little like The Others series in that there are humans and cryptids (anything not human such as minotaurs, mermaids, centaurs, shifters, ifrits etc.) in this world. After an event called ‘the reaping,’ where human children were replaced with cryptid imposters, cryptids are persecuted, enslaved, treated as property or pets within the US. Delilah, the main character, finds herself captured and put on display in a traveling menagerie despite not knowing she was a cryptid or ‘what’ she is…it’s a pretty neat ‘what’ too! The story is sooo intriguing and just cool. I’ve blabbed on enough but I really recommend it for a bunch on here that like paranormal and ‘different’ paranormal like The Others. There’s no romance but maybe some potential, still I didn’t miss it one bit. Read it, read it! ”

“But if monsters could look like humans, and humans could look like monsters, how could anyone ever really be sure that the right people stood on the outside of all those cages?”

9) Confess: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— “I was left with a beautiful, quivering in your chest happy feeling at the end of Confess. The confession concept and artwork were genius! I loved the play on colors in certain parts. I loved the impact of some lines with their honest simplicity. I loved Owen for being just a good guy and not some alpha male jerk. I loved Auburn for all her bad choices and later her determination and selflessness. The feeling I was left with reminded me how I felt at the end of The Sea of Tranquility. Wonderful book!”

“I’m afraid if I listen to my heart once, I’ll never figure out how to ignore it again.”

“Let him think he owns me. Let him welcome me into his house, so I might burn it down.”

12) The Tairen Soul Series by C.L. Wilson <— “After finishing the Tairen Soul series which is now going to be a standard against which I measure future fantasy reads… I LOVE them so much that I could not stop after the first one! It’s a brilliant world she has constructed…vivid characters…amazing plot…I can’t gush enough!”

“When he caught his breath, he regarded her with glowing, half-closed eyes. ‘If I’m very, very good, shei’tani, will you do that again when we’re alone?’ “

“While she looked beyond, he caught a glimpse, not of the future, but of a sense of future. A future that was hers, but not his. He grasped the concept imperfectly, but he understood the potential of it, and quailed before it.”

“I was drunk on him. High on him. I wanted to swallow him down, inhale him, inject him. I wanted him to live under my skin and change my DNA. I wanted to live in his air and breathe his passion.”

15) Pure Abandon by Jeannine Colette <— “WHOA…I’m very pleasantly surprised by Pure Abandon! …the last half was a landslide of emotion and angst and just WOW…absolutely could not put it down! Anyone who liked Arsen this was very close to those feels for me and I LOVED it! I also thought I had it figured out but was wrong about a lot. I loved My Time in the Affair but for those who thought you didn’t get to know both men enough to feel conflicted, Pure Abandon nails it and oh how the ending is a happy heartbreak! Floating in a book fog for sure!”

” ‘It’s not Strata Luna,’ David said, amusement in his voice. ‘I would list all the reasons Avery might have for being in love with you, but you wouldn’t believe me.’ “

17) Jezebel by K. Larsen <— “Umm yeah I loved Jezebel but I just can. not. do the novella now. I need to digest and honestly I like some unanswered questions…a tidy perfectly wrapped up ending would have taken away from the book.…do not be scared, the ending was just shocking! It’s the best kind of psychological mystery/thriller/romance I’ve read since…You by Caroline Kepnes but with a heavier lean towards romance and mystery.”

“She brushed off her hands and grabbed her purse, setting off for the back porch with purpose. On the ground, Cocky squawked his indignation at being left. ‘Hush,’ Cole chided him. ‘You’ve already gotten more play than me.’ “

Well, um, I knew are taste were similar, but dang! I just haven’t read a few of your books up there, but spot on for the most part. I’ll get to the ones I haven’t read yet eventually. Right now, Beautiful Dead is on my Kindle. I agree about Ilona Andrews. She can do no wrong. Stylo Fantome’s writing is insane. The Others are well, The Others. Queen of Shadows and Tairen Soul were insanely perfect. They may be an all time favorite, honestly. Awesome list, though now there are a bunch of books to catch up on.

There it is.
I actually just bought Menagerie yesterday. I saw it on a list, but thought it looked familiar. Probably from you posting about it.
ViS–just love all the moments with the hair.
I don’t think I’ve read Anne Fraser but like mystery/romance series, is that what it is?

Wowzer. Awesome list Michelle…I knew this would be good. (And obviously I stalk your comments because I have all of your books I’ve not read yet on my tbr. I pay attention to your recs.)
Loved Illuminae, Kulti, Confess, The Deal…and Clan of the Cave Bear…what a blast from the past.

There is Jezabel AGAIN. Im going to have to step off that cliff I think….

Wow Maryse you even fancied it up! Except you should have left out my inane reaction blubbering *blushes*

MichelleS, read Kate Daniels asap! Where’s Bev? She’s a recent fan and can tell ya too! Tairen Soul, I will forever be thankful for the rec

Tessa, I told you that I think you are my book twin! I read the Kane trilogy this year too and loved those books. I need to read more of hers.

Bev, Menagerie was just different and cool. Ending was rushed a bit but it’s a trilogy so we get more. It’s the only one on the list that I gave 4* but when I was making my list it bumped a 5* star read I thought because I remembered it more.

Anne Frasier writes fantastic mystery/suspense/thriller books traditionally. The Elise Sandburg series branches out and adds a little paranormal twist and romance. The romance is on a WiR level though. It’s there but we are slow burning it at a Simon pace…but fingers crossed!

Really Fabi! I’m kinda shocked you haven’t read more – thought you’d be all uh huh ok been there, done that! Ok then get to work missy since I did point ya to the most amazing book and even though I said they were in no particular order, Illuminae is an easy #1 for my year! I was going to pick the ‘…and like roses in his hands, death blooms’ quote but the funny parts were unexpected and really made me laugh out loud.

Lisa, aww thank you! Fabi, rec’d Clan of the Cave Bear and I’ve read the first two so far and loved them soooo much! Transcendence used to be my fav in that area (still adore it) but those books are just…more.

Oooh, I have read a few, Vision in Silver, The Deal, My Time in The Affair, Pure Abandon and Jezebel, but wow… you picked 18… so that’s like 13 I haven’t read, and your reactions are so perfect that means… my TBR list just grew….

Wait, if I wait and add these after Friday, they go on my 2016 list, right? *giggle*

I love the quote you picked Michelle. Perfect. The humor and the romance in the midst of all the crazyness made it so much more human.

I’ve read over half of your favs and the ones I haven’t read are mostly the angsty, heartbreaky ones. I have to get my courage up to take the plunge with those. I’m currently reading one of your recs, The Last Hour of Gann. I would have started Land of the Beautiful Dead, but I already had TLHoG downloaded on my tbr and I’m planning on reading both anyways. Riveting. I almost made myself late for work this morning because I was reading TLHoG with my coffee.

I’m jumping on the Kate Daniel’s bandwagon asap too. It’s already on my tbr. Eeek, so many books. Many of those above are series which I haven’t started yet, so it’s a bit overwhelming.

A couple of you have mentioned waiting until 2016 to add to the tbr. I think I’m going to create a couple of new categories in my Kindle library, tbr 2016 and read 2016. Maybe that will help me keep track of what I’ve added and what I’ve read for the year.

Maryse no I was kidding…kinda haha but I sound like a fangirling crazy person in most of them! Oh well, if it gets anyone excited to read them then mission accomplished I guess…or to pick them up again *cough Illuminae*

Fabi, I know Illuminae had a little of everything. The humor was very endearing – another reason I fell for the characters hard! I had the most trouble picking a quote for it too. Also loved “They are beyond me. These humans. With their brief lives and their tiny dreams and their hopes that seem as fragile as glass. Until you see them by starlight, that is.” and “She is catalyst. She is chaos. I can see why he loves her.”

TLHoG is amazing, like I gave it 4.5* and TLotBD 5*. I just was a little more into the story in Dead but it’s purely a personal preference which world you like better.

Yes the Kate Daniels series is basically urban fantasy perfection. If you like the genre, you really have to read them. I’m never disappointed by a book unlike some other series that I love too but have had duds mixed in.

Michelle, believe it or not, I actually have another online reading buddy that had a hard time getting into the story in Illuminae. So, Maryse is not alone in her struggle.

Of course, then there’s me. The absolute best book I’ve EVER read. Yup, in my whole life. That hardcover design just blew my mind. Plus, almost the entire book is quote worthy. Since I read the hard-cover, I don’t have my handy highlights. But I remember just reading and rereading certain lines and parts.

AND, there are almost 7,300 ratings on GR with an average of 4.30 stars. That’s seems like a pretty solid accomplishment for those two authors.

LOL – you have to quit getting me on that Illuminae rant. I try so hard to resist going on and on about it. Obviously, I fail.

As much PNR as I’ve read, I can’t believe I missed one as good as Kate Daniels. I don’t know why unless it was the title or series name that didn’t initially appeal to me. No worries though, it’s wayyyy up there on my tbr.

Speaking of…I started reading (listening to) A Court of Thorns and Roses. Honestly, I think I got it confused with Throne of Glass at first. They sound and look similar. But…I’m a little over 35% into ACoTaR and, well, I can’t honestly say I’m very fond of the heroine just yet. So, considering the tbr pile, should I stick with it? Does it just soar at some point? Or should I move on to ToG

Grey, a bunch of these are recs from others here so it’s fun to see them passed on for others to enjoy. Let’s see, Bev suggested Without Words, Fabi got me into Clan of the Cave Bear and Red Rising, MichelleS for Tairen Soul and Amy rec’d the Until the End of the World series which just missed my cut off. Maryse’s blog for 5,6,9,14,15,17,18

The rest of the ones I pulled out as my favorites this year (a lot were not published in 2015): UTEotW series as mentioned above, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Heart’s Surrender by Kathleen Morgan, Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, The Kane Trilogy by Stylo Fantome, Hold My Heart by Esther M. Soto, One Immortal by Tia Louise, The Last Hour of Gann by R Lee Smith, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez, My Soul to Take by Madeline Sheehan, Yours Always by Rhonda R Dennis, and Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs. Whew I had a good reading year!

UTEotW… *oomph* Again. Never fails. My heart clenches every time I see that.

Okay, now I am REALLY intrigued by Land of the Beautiful Dead. Click! I’ve already had Heat on my radar for a while, and I think that will be an upcoming read for me soon.

I’m with you, Michelle…it IS fun to see recs passed around here and then watching others fall in love with them as we did! I would have missed out on soooooo many great reads had I not found y’all here!

Well ACoTaR was a good read for me but not as great as Throne of Glass. I gave it 3.5*. Sounds harsh but my rating scale is 3* as an average, enjoyable read so anything above has something a little better or unique. Most of my books are 3*. The potential is there for the series to be really good but yes it was slow in parts and the end had a quick wrap up. Not sure how it will translate on audio?

Amy, Land of the Beautiful Dead is UNIQUE but it kinda reminded me of After and UtEotW in some ways. Very dark and gritty like After but with undead like UtEotW. More romance than both and a paranormal addition. Where’s Jean? She would like it too. Oh I still need to read Wither *moves it to my homepage*

One fantasy read I totally forgot about for this year was Serpeant of Time series. One of your recs, Michelle. Loved that one too!!! How could I have left that off? It had a hot elf & everything!!! Not as hot as Rammel Hawking, of course!!

The Wither by Lauren DeStefano is sitting on my iPad as well…that was the one I was mentioning (even though I haven’t yet read it myself ) but the one Jean rec’d was by Amy Miles. I wonder why that one isn’t available anymore…

Wow, just catching up after being out of town. Michelle, what a great list and I love your comments!

*whispers* not a big PNR fan, so honestly I have not read many on your list. I do love hearing about them from all of you and it does make me curious to read them, especially the little blurb with Illuminae. But it’s book one in a series, right?

I’ve only read 6 books on your list Michelle, but so many I want to read! I went and bought the actual book of Illuminae and it’s so cool! It’s high on my TBR for 2016, but for now it’s sitting on my dining room table like a beautiful centerpiece!

Cheryl, Illuminae is book 1 of a trilogy. It’s really fantastic if you can stick with it! The format is like nothing I’ve seen and I read 200+ books every year.

The only ones I would say are PNR are the Kate Daniels series which is more urban fantasy and The Others which again is more urban fantasy. A lot up there fit multiple genres. I guess I look for that since I get bored with the same thing easily!

That’s too bad about Wither and weird. I bought the Amy Miles one when it was .99 and Jean was liking it a lot. I’m reading it soon!

Yey Jean! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it. The actual book is so cool and I randomly flip through it. I have it out under my coffee table which has books displayed and my company over the holiday was commenting on how neat it was. Also Dead I think you will really like – it’s just different and has that shocking ‘I can’t stop reading’ feeling that After and UtEotW had.

Tessa, good to know but I hope my copy will get the update or I might have to repurchase.

Grey, I would totally lend it out but it’s not lendable Why can’t most books just be lendable at this point?!

Fabi, I just laughed again at that! Amber is awesome. I’m still reading Heat…still. I just want to see how it ends and finish so I can count it for 2015. I’m definitley not tearing through it like Gann or Dead but I still like it, it’s just easier to put down.

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I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. [ read more ]